Page 35 of Bartered Innocence

My shoulders slump. “Does everyone in the brotherhood know?”

Cillian shrugs. “I don’t know. Rian’s sex life isn’t a topic we openly discuss. You’ll have to ask him.”

“Why are you bringing me to him so easily? I would think you’d keep me locked in the room.”

He smirks. “Because the look on his face when he sees you will be worth his fury. And a reminder that he can’t just run off to do whatever he wants. My sister would have backhanded him for even leaving to begin with, so I’ll do it in her honor.”

My eyebrows scrunch together when he pulls up in front of a dingy-looking parking lot. Most of the empty windows have for lease posters on them, besides the middle business. The neon signs and wood paneling on the front stand out against the bleak darkness.

“The fuckingstronzowent to a bar?” I growl out, moving to grab the door handle.

Cillian grips my elbow. “I said I would take you. I didn’t say you could go inside.”

“Let go of me.” I try to pull my arm from his grasp but his hold tightens.

He clicks his tongue. “Now don’t go struggling. Rian will stab me if I leave a bruise.”

“I’ll stab you if you don’t let go.”

Cillian laughs. “Damn. The fucker was right. A woman after my own heart.”

I turn to look at him, confused.

He shakes his head. “Sit your ass back down and wait for your husband like a good little wife.”

I roll my eyes, wanting desperately to show him how much I’m not a good wife, but I settle back in my seat instead. Cillian pulls his hand back and opens the glove compartment. My mouth drops at the vast amounts of snacks stuffed inside.

“It looks like you cleared out a 7-11.”

Cillian chuckles, pulling out a bag of chips. “Nah, just some of your bodegas. People have looser lips when you’re spending money.”

“I’m sure Luca would love to know that,” I mutter, pulling out a bag of licorice.

A snort echoes to my left. “It’s the name of the game, darlin'. Everyone has their dirty fingers in everyone’s business.”

Ignoring the comment, considering this isn’t a game I want to participate in, I eat my licorice in silence with my eyes glued to the entrance of the bar. As soon as the man I’m looking for comes through it I toss the food to the floor.

Cillian’s curses follow me out as I open the door, muttering something about a child lock.

I step out and Rian stops short, taking in my sudden appearance before turning his glare at Cillian.

“You left me in bed and came for a drink?” I grit out, crossing my arms.

Aodhan blows out a low whistle, tapping Rian on the back and moving around us. “Let’s leave the newlyweds to it, brother,” he says to Cillian before stopping next to me. “Have a good night, Isabelle. Welcome to the family.”

The dead expression in his eyes doesn’t comfort me, even with the spoken sentiments. I swallow and don’t say anything as they get into the SUV I just exited.

I look back at Rian, who has been watching the entire exchange silently, when Cormac steps out of the place next. He whispers something into Rian’s ear and my husband nods. Then he disappears into the dark parking lot without a glance at me. The man moves as if he can control shadows.

“You had Cillian follow me here?” he asks after a minute.

I shift onto my other foot, wondering why I even care where he’d gone to begin with. But I don’t want to be made to feel like I’m in the wrong here. “Who leaves their wife on their wedding night?”

Rian’s sinister smile has me backing up a step as he walks toward me. I have nowhere to go, so I stand there when he cups my face, tilting my head to look up at him.

“If I thought you cared, I wouldn’t have left you.”

I grit my teeth, moving his fingers off my jaw. The neon lights reflect off his knuckles and my chest constricts at the blood smeared on them. I inhale sharply.

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